Just curious if anyone has any experience heading mainly west from Prairie Portage until about Canadian Pt and then heading North? Will we be going against the prevailing winds/currents? Heading out at the end of June with Scouts and our outfitter wants us to head Northerly thru Burke Lake etc. (I'd rather spend most of the 1st day paddling!)

Any feedback welcome!

I think Burke would be a good target for your first day. If you felt more energetic you could push to North bay. It's only 2 portages to Burke and 4 to North bay. All easy.

Thanks! I have done the Burke/North Bay route once before, just really trying go west, come up through kett and eventually make it to Mcintyre. We could make a lot of miles just heading westerly the first day if we are not going against the winds and/or current

I’ve been that way four or five times now. The conditions are always changing, of course. Bailey Bay can get ugly in the wind, so it’s good to have options. You can always take the North Portage into Sunday Lake if the conditions make that the better choice than heading to the Yellow Brick Road portage into Burke. The McIntyre area is really nice. It’s a journey getting there though, so you earn how nice it is! I really like Robinson a bit to the west of McIntyre as well. Kett is a really pretty lake as well, but I’ve never spent a night there. Most people really like Isabella lake as well in case you head through that way. Avoid the old bog portage (no longer maintained) out of the northwest side of Point Lake. And most importantly, go at your group’s pace and have a great time! Even if you only make it to Burke, Sunday, or the North Bay, you’re still spending time in an awesome place!

The prevailing winds are south and west, and yes, Bayley bay and the main body of Basswood can get nasty in a hurry. That being said, if the weather were right it would be an option, although I doubt you would find it an easier route. PP to McIntyre is quite a trek for scouts, how long are you out?

If memory serves, Sucker dumps into Basswood at prairie portage. I couldn't speak to the lakes north of Basswood.

I've headed west from PP several times, twice to Basswood Falls and once to Ranger Bay. Maybe just good weather luck but I love that paddle and am always surprised when people here advise against it.

My first trip with Scouts was through Burke and North to Kashapiwi. Isabella was first day target but with young scouts, little experience, aluminum canoes, and a late start - I think nearly 10:00 am out of PP - just made big site at mouth if Isabella River.

If it's decent weather, head west young men!

One of the most memorable paddles was North to Bayley by water. It's a long ways around but unique and saw no one.

One hitch in your plans is that you have to head to the Basswood River before heading to Kett- at least that is what the Q rangers insisted we do last year. On the bright side if you follow the letter of the law (Basswood River permit means you paddle the Basswood River) you can loop through Wilson or Robinson to get to Kett. Pushing up McIntyre Creek from Robinson can be an adventure but it's one of my favorite routes.

That being said I've paddled Basswood a fair bit. Wind can make it interesting. You can find shelter amongst islands and such- a few big stretches of open water.

Banksiana: "One hitch in your plans is that you have to head to the Basswood River before heading to Kett- at least that is what the Q rangers insisted we do last year. On the bright side if you follow the letter of the law (Basswood River permit means you paddle the Basswood River) you can loop through Wilson or Robinson to get to Kett. Pushing up McIntyre Creek from Robinson can be an adventure but it's one of my favorite routes.


That being said I've paddled Basswood a fair bit. Wind can make it interesting. You can find shelter amongst islands and such- a few big stretches of open water."

The OP doesn't say what his permit is. I was told that I could enter at Kett with a Sarah Permit. Seems like if his outfitter wants him to go through Burke he has either a Sarah Permit or a Kahsh permit.

At any rate, it's a fine way to go, though like others have said, the wind is going to be a determining factor. If you go into Merriam Bay, there is a shortcut portage that cuts off Canadian point. Merriam Bay is worth a stop IMO..nice campsites and not that many people go through there.

Definitely appreciate the feedback!! Last time we went in 2013 we made it Isabella the first night, we put out about 10 AM. It was a haul but all of the boys had been in a canoe a few times etc.

We are out for about a week, when we went last time we had our sites on McIntyre but only made it to Sarah. But Sarah is just beautiful so it worked out well for a lay over day!!

marsonite: "

Banksiana: "One hitch in your plans is that you have to head to the Basswood River before heading to Kett- at least that is what the Q rangers insisted we do last year. On the bright side if you follow the letter of the law (Basswood River permit means you paddle the Basswood River) you can loop through Wilson or Robinson to get to Kett. Pushing up McIntyre Creek from Robinson can be an adventure but it's one of my favorite routes.



That being said I've paddled Basswood a fair bit. Wind can make it interesting. You can find shelter amongst islands and such- a few big stretches of open water."

The OP doesn't say what his permit is. I was told that I could enter at Kett with a Sarah Permit. Seems like if his outfitter wants him to go through Burke he has either a Sarah Permit or a Kahsh permit.


At any rate, it's a fine way to go, though like others have said, the wind is going to be a determining factor. If you go into Merriam Bay, there is a shortcut portage that cuts off Canadian point. Merriam Bay is worth a stop IMO..nice campsites and not that many people go through there."

Sorry, I should have been clear... my permit is for Sarah

RG_322: "

marsonite: "

Banksiana: "One hitch in your plans is that you have to head to the Basswood River before heading to Kett- at least that is what the Q rangers insisted we do last year. On the bright side if you follow the letter of the law (Basswood River permit means you paddle the Basswood River) you can loop through Wilson or Robinson to get to Kett. Pushing up McIntyre Creek from Robinson can be an adventure but it's one of my favorite routes.



That being said I've paddled Basswood a fair bit. Wind can make it interesting. You can find shelter amongst islands and such- a few big stretches of open water."

The OP doesn't say what his permit is. I was told that I could enter at Kett with a Sarah Permit. Seems like if his outfitter wants him to go through Burke he has either a Sarah Permit or a Kahsh permit.



At any rate, it's a fine way to go, though like others have said, the wind is going to be a determining factor. If you go into Merriam Bay, there is a shortcut portage that cuts off Canadian point. Merriam Bay is worth a stop IMO..nice campsites and not that many people go through there."

Sorry, I should have been clear... my permit is for Sarah"

Kett is a great little lake. Only disadvantage is that there is a fairly long portage to the unnamed lake off of Basswood on the way to Kett. It's a pretty easy one though...about a third of it is on solid bedrock.

If you go that way to Sarah, you also get to go through Tuck, which is a really scenic lake, with clear water and beautiful pines on the shores.